Detroit Pistons Announce Opening Night Entertainment Performers

Recording Artists Taio Cruz, The Temptations And Mike Posner To Perform During Home Opener

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today that entertainment performers for their home opener will include multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Taio Cruz, legendary Motown performers The Temptations featuring Dennis Edwards and international recording artist and Southfield native Mike Posner. The Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, December 28 (7:30 p.m.) on opening night at The Palace. Taio will perform during halftime festivities, Edwards and The Temptations will perform during pregame and Posner with sing the National Anthem.

“We are thrilled to announce a great line-up of musical entertainment for opening night highlighted by performers that are known locally, nationally and throughout the world,” said Dennis Mannion, President of Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Pistons. “The first home game of the season is always a special night and we look forward to creating a memorable experience for our fans here at The Palace.”

Taio recently released “Hangover,” the first single from his much-anticipated upcoming album, TY.O, due in spring of 2012. “Hangover” sees Taio re-teaming with hit producer Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Pitbull) for the first time since the duo co-produced Taio’s No. 1 blockbuster hit “Dynamite,” which appeared on his breakthrough album ROKSTARR and sold more than 5 million singles while winning three Billboard Music Awards. Among his plethora of accomplishments, Taio is the first and only UK male solo artist to place two tracks in the Top 10 of Billboard’s year-end Hot 100, the first and only UK male solo artist to have two consecutive No. 1 singles in the U.S., and is YouTube’s most-viewed UK artist of all time, with over 200 million combined views. He recently scored his third Top 40 No. 1 hit by writing “Without You” for David Guetta feat. Usher.

Over the course of their career, the Temptations have released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and 14 Billboard R&B number-one singles. Their material has earned them three Grammy Awards, while two more awards were conferred upon the songwriters and producers who crafted their 1972 hit "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." The Temptations were the first Motown act to earn a Grammy Award and six Temptations (Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Otis Williams, and Paul Williams) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Posner, born and raised in Southfield, MI, signed to RCA Records while a student at Duke University and released his debut album, 31 Minutes to Takeoff, on August 10, 2010, just 3 months after graduating. The album included the multiplatinum, international hit "Cooler Than Me," and his platinum-selling second and third singles, "Please Don't Go," and "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" featuring Lil Wayne. He was nominated for a 2010 American Music Award, a 2010 MTV Europe Music Award and won a 2011 ASCAP Award. Posner has collaborated with artists such as Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg.

For in-depth analysis by website editor Keith Langlois and special video interviews, visit www.pistons.com, the official source for news and features on the Detroit Pistons.